Show me your Satakentia Liukiuensis

[bubba]

This is a magnificient Palm indigenous to the Japanese islands of Ryukyu near Okinawa. It supposedly is somewhat similar to Coconuts in it's climatic requirements. This specimen is an old and big one that I suspect was planted around 1947 at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm:

I think they keep the lighting on this Palm year round:

Who is growing this Tropical Palm and can they be grown in California, Brisbane, Perth, Andalucia, Greece and all the other usual suspects.

[John in Andalucia]

A lot of growers in Europe have had little success with raising seedlings. I have only one remaining, having lost quite a few even before they produced a leaf spike. They have rigid, wiry little roots that seem to rot easily. This one is going strong, so I'll hang on to it.

[Palmə häl′ik]

The Ryukyu islands is Okinawa.

They are the same.

I was born there. But my parents left for FL when I was two...

~Ray.

[Walter John]

Slow grower for me, could be in a bad soil spot though, no pictures, maybe later.

You'll find some nice Satake palms in this thread though

Plantation 2000

[Charles Wychgel]

Four pictures of my Satakentia tell the story

Growing well after planting in 20002, it suffered when we had the coldest winter in 40 years, I do not record temps but I guess it was 2ºC in my garden and I lost all the spears on the Satakentia(I have two)

One came back and on the other I had to perform surgery last month and this one is coming back as well

First picture :2009 second one: 2008

[Charles Wychgel]

A picture taken in 2002

[bubba]

Forget the Sakententia. Take Wal's wild ride on that prior Link/Post. Can they grow Sakentias in Brisbane rephrased to just what cannot be grown in Brisbane.

Charles,I am constantly amazed by Portugal. That is a rather sturdy Sakententia. Some how I got the feeling you are holding back on a grove of 40 foot Coconuts.

John, See Charles!

Ray, You have been around,dude!

[Cycadcenter]

Slow grower for me, could be in a bad soil spot though, no pictures, maybe later.

You'll find some nice Satake palms in this thread though

Plantation 2000

Wal,

Stan produced seed off his last year and has a few seedlings I think.

I have 8 I got from Rosebud which I'm putting in the ground at Childers in November whan I'm over next.

Bruce

[palmislandRandy]

The first one is mine. A little over 2 years from a 7 gallon.

The others are at the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach, Fl. That black/purple crownshaft is

[paulgila]

amazing palms,there,randy!

[Walter John]

I might try another in a different spot me thinks.

[MattyB]

Are these known for being slow? Mine is real slow.

[MattyB]

Four pictures of my Satakentia tell the story

Growing well after planting in 20002, it suffered when we had the coldest winter in 40 years, I do not record temps but I guess it was 2ºC in my garden and I lost all the spears on the Satakentia(I have two)

One came back and on the other I had to perform surgery last month and this one is coming back as well

First picture :2009 second one: 2008

Charles,

Your second pic looks more like a Gaussia maya than a Satakentia.

[tjwalters]

I have a few about the size of the one in post #2. I had more, but it seems once they reach that size they start brown-tipping, then collapse and die. Any ideas as to what might be going on?

[Charles Wychgel]

Charles,

Your second pic looks more like a Gaussia maya than a Satakentia.

Matty I remember you told me that some time ago but it is definitely not a Gaussia maya, my Gaussia were untouched by this cold we had, they are much hardier than Satakentia

[Tyrone]

These are slow even in the tropics. I have one growing fine in the ground. It's still small about 60cm tall but I put it in a position which gets a bit of winter sun but was in a marginal summer "burn" area, so it suffered at first but has since sun hardened to our sun. I know of others growing it in Perth. I have some more in pots that are about 1m tall that I grew from 15cm tall seedlings. These don't mind water in winter provided it doesn't get to freezing I would think. My garden even on the coldest night wouldn't drop below 4C so they just chug away opening new spears every few months. The one in the ground is opening a new spear at the moment.

I would never expect mine to get big or drastically speed up. Also they're much easier than a coconut to grow. Coconuts don't mind getting down to 2C provided the days get to 20C or above. Satakentia's don't mind days around 16C provided the nights don't drop much below 5C for extended periods. Also they hate drought. In the Ryukyu islands it just constantly rains, even in winter. Summer weather is around 26C min to 32C max and plenty of rain and in winter the area sees 16Cmin to 19C max and more rain. With so much rain around they'd never see anything close to frost in habitat. They do tend to speed up a bit in hot humid weather.

That's my experiences with this stunning species.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Tyrone]

Here's a couple of mine. Still small compared to other peoples pictured.

Not the best pics. I had to take the first one from above as it was surrounded by a creeper.

The second one is still waiting for a position to open up to be planted.

Best regards

Tyrone

[ariscott]

Mine speeds up a little after I repot them. They still have a bit of growing to do before going in the ground....

Regards, Ari

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I have one in ground for 3 winters now. Got it from Floribunda in 2005 as a 4 inch palm...

Slow... Slow ... Slow. ... but picking up speed. Its about " knee high " now.

Doesn't seem to mind our chilly winters as much as most " Tropical " Crown shaft palms.

Loves Modesto's baking summer heat.

Lowest temp the palm has taken was about 27f... with a little over head protection from my lychee tree.

My Sakententia has never suffered any damage whats so ever...

Average Dec high temp here is 52f ( 11c ) average Low temp is 38f ( 3.3c )

My Average soil temp in mid winter at 2 inches deep is 48f .

In my garden... this palm is quite a bit more cold hardy than coconut.

Jeff

[MattyB]

Charles,

Your second pic looks more like a Gaussia maya than a Satakentia.

Matty I remember you told me that some time ago but it is definitely not a Gaussia maya, my Gaussia were untouched by this cold we had, they are much hardier than Satakentia

Oh, sorry to repeat myself. I didn't remember.

Jeff,

That's great news that you've had success in Modesto. Amazing!

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Charles,

Your second pic looks more like a Gaussia maya than a Satakentia.

Matty I remember you told me that some time ago but it is definitely not a Gaussia maya, my Gaussia were untouched by this cold we had, they are much hardier than Satakentia

Oh, sorry to repeat myself. I didn't remember.

Jeff,

That's great news that you've had success in Modesto. Amazing!

Its small... but here is a pic.

Jeff

[palmislandRandy]

[Matt in SD]

I'd never think a monotypic genus like Satakentia would cause confusion and mixups, but...

I'm with MattyB on Charles' palm not being Satakentia. If it's not Gaussia maya, maybe it's a different Gaussia (princeps is more tender). The leaflets look like they have a little "plumosity" to them. I guess I wouldn't say 100% for sure not Satakentia, but if it is, it's growing very oddly possibly due to climate.

And Jeff in Modesto's palm is definitely not Satakentia, looks like a Dypsis decipiens or the palm that was being sold recently as Dypsis 'honkona' (which may just be a form of decipiens. Sorry Jeff.

Matt

[Johnny Palmseed]

I'd never think a monotypic genus like Satakentia would cause confusion and mixups, but...

I'm with MattyB on Charles' palm not being Satakentia. If it's not Gaussia maya, maybe it's a different Gaussia (princeps is more tender). The leaflets look like they have a little "plumosity" to them. I guess I wouldn't say 100% for sure not Satakentia, but if it is, it's growing very oddly possibly due to climate.

And Jeff in Modesto's palm is definitely not Satakentia, looks like a Dypsis decipiens or the palm that was being sold recently as Dypsis 'honkona' (which may just be a form of decipiens. Sorry Jeff.

Matt

It looks quite like an Attenuata I have - especially from the early picture.

I also have a Maya but mine seems to arch more than that one and mine is in full sun.

John

[MattyB]

Yeah, don't mean to pile on but I agree that Jeff's palm is along the Dypsis decipiens line, not Satakentia. Maybe I should post a pic of mine to make sure I've really got a Satakentia.

[Daryl]

I don't think Charles' palm is a Satakentia...the white colouration on it does not resemble any Satakentia I've seen...as young palms they are really green.

And Jeff's does look like D.decipiens to me too.

Here's some photos of mine...

The first is a young plant about 5ft tall...does not seem fazed by our winters, although it is not a rocket.

The second is a young seedling...about 24" tall..the petiole and leaf colour is all green.

regards,

Daryl

[Palm Guy]

I enjoyed all these pics!

I had about 10 seedlings all die on me. I probably overpotted them. Life sucks just as much as my potting skills do!

If there is a next time I'm dropping these guys right into the soil. They used to be my favorite till my bad experiences with them! I still want some though.

[Joe palma]

While in Loxahatchee FL, earlier this week, I saw a real nice Satakentia at Mike Harris's Caribbean Palms, in his personal collection.

Awesome looking palm w/ 3' of wood trunk and great crownshaft color.

I haven't tried one myself. Think I will now.

Joe

[BS Man about Palms]

I will say I was sold a "Satakentia" a long time ago when I started from a "hobby nursery" well north of here. It turned out not to be. I STILL don't know what it is, but its not that. El Hoagie has one of the same type and his may be from the same guy.

The only characteristic I can note from early is the leaves always look very shiny. Almost like someone "Armor All'ed" them.

[Cycadcenter]

I don't think Charles' palm is a Satakentia...the white colouration on it does not resemble any Satakentia I've seen...as young palms they are really green.

And Jeff's does look like D.decipiens to me too.

Here's some photos of mine...

The first is a young plant about 5ft tall...does not seem fazed by our winters, although it is not a rocket.

The second is a young seedling...about 24" tall..the petiole and leaf colour is all green.

regards,

Daryl

Daryl,

The ones I have up at Childers are about the size of your second one, do you think they are big enough to plant out and will they need some sun protection as they are currently in a 50% shadehouse.

Thanks

Bruce

[Palm Guy]

I will say I was sold a "Satakentia" a long time ago when I started from a "hobby nursery" well north of here. It turned out not to be. I STILL don't know what it is, but its not that. El Hoagie has one of the same type and his may be from the same guy.

The only characteristic I can note from early is the leaves always look very shiny. Almost like someone "Armor All'ed" them.

Bill - Thats what happens when you're ranch hands decide to do a car wash next to the palm nursery!

[BS Man about Palms]

I will say I was sold a "Satakentia" a long time ago when I started from a "hobby nursery" well north of here. It turned out not to be. I STILL don't know what it is, but its not that. El Hoagie has one of the same type and his may be from the same guy.

The only characteristic I can note from early is the leaves always look very shiny. Almost like someone "Armor All'ed" them.

Bill - Thats what happens when you're ranch hands decide to do a car wash next to the palm nursery!

[Daryl]

I don't think Charles' palm is a Satakentia...the white colouration on it does not resemble any Satakentia I've seen...as young palms they are really green.

And Jeff's does look like D.decipiens to me too.

Here's some photos of mine...

The first is a young plant about 5ft tall...does not seem fazed by our winters, although it is not a rocket.

The second is a young seedling...about 24" tall..the petiole and leaf colour is all green.

regards,

Daryl

Daryl,

The ones I have up at Childers are about the size of your second one, do you think they are big enough to plant out and will they need some sun protection as they are currently in a 50% shadehouse.

Thanks

Bruce

Bruce,

I wouldn't put one that size out in full sun. They don't seem to burn as much as Archontophoenix, but they yellow off and go backwards if planted too early here.

Daryl

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

OMG... GOONG!

The ONLY palm I do know about for sure...is Dypsis Decipens...This is not d. Decipiens..

I have lots of experience with is Dypsis Decipens. I have a large Dypsis Decipiens in my front yard....( latest spear is about 8 ft tall)

The palm in the photo...Jeff at Foribunda sold to me as Satakentia Liukiuensis ( label is still there )

its definately NOT dypsis decipiens.

Now... I am very aware ... things get mismarked...It may not be Satakentia Liukiuensis... I have no other Satakentia Liukiuensis palm to compare with, ,,,,but d. decipens??... nope...I have had several.... At this age... The leaves of d. decipiens are very leathery... almost brittle.

This one is feathery....

So if someone thinks it is not Satakentia Liukiuensis... What else can it be???

Jeff

[Dypsisdean]

OMG... GOONG!

The ONLY palm I do know about for sure...is Dypsis Decipens...This is not d. Decipiens..

I have lots of experience with is Dypsis Decipens. I have a large Dypsis Decipiens in my front yard....( latest spear is about 8 ft tall)

The palm in the photo...Jeff at Foribunda sold to me as Satakentia Liukiuensis ( label is still there )

its definately NOT dypsis decipiens.

Now... I am very aware ... things get mismarked...It may not be Satakentia Liukiuensis... I have no other Satakentia Liukiuensis palm to compare with, ,,,,but d. decipens??... nope...I have had several.... At this age... The leaves of d. decipiens are very leathery... almost brittle.

This one is feathery....

So if someone thinks it is not Satakentia Liukiuensis... What else can it be???

Jeff

Jeff,

Be careful when disagreeing with Matt in SD. He may be number one here on palm IDs - certainly in the top three.

Which reminds me. I owe him a call. He was the latest winner of the $50 in the Palmpedia Palm Puzzle ID Contest. I don't know how he does it.

COULD YOU HAVE IDed THIS?

[Charles Wychgel]

So if someone thinks it is not Satakentia Liukiuensis... What else can it be???

I bought mine from a nursery "up north" as well almost ten years ago, mind this is not a "hobby" nursery

I know that a lot of seedlings look very much alike so the mistake could have been made earlier on

Matty is right the trunk looks like a Gaussia, the leaves do not look like Gaussia to me however.

Trouble is here in Europe Satakentia are rare and hard to find so I have no plants to compare with

So if someone thinks it is not Satakentia or Gaussia....what else can it be???

[Matt in SD]

Dean...enough fanfare. I'm sure there are plenty of others on here that can ID most everything but just don't get all excited about trying like I usually do if there is a challenge. My vote is on Christian (cfkingfish) as the #1 palm ID'er, no doubt.

Jeff, I agree that your palm is not the standard D decipiens that you usually get. But there are a bunch of palms going around, 'hovitra', 'honkona', 'hankona', 'betafaka', that are very close to what you have and several people that grow a lot of palms say that these seem like a form of D decipiens to them (I've been more skeptical). I'm with you that the leaflets are pretty different from what I've grown as D decipiens, but until these things get bigger, it's just not clear what they are.

Matt

[epicure3]

I will say I was sold a "Satakentia" a long time ago when I started from a "hobby nursery" well north of here. It turned out not to be. I STILL don't know what it is, but its not that. El Hoagie has one of the same type and his may be from the same guy.

The only characteristic I can note from early is the leaves always look very shiny. Almost like someone "Armor All'ed" them.

Maybe it's plastic.

[epicure3]

This is a magnificient Palm indigenous to the Japanese islands of Ryukyu near Okinawa. It supposedly is somewhat similar to Coconuts in it's climatic requirements.

Yes and no. I have heard the same thing but my guess is that you can grow this palm in a good micro climate here in SoCal as MattyB has. I just don't think a ton of people have tried. In addition, it is very slow so why not plant something else.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Dean...enough fanfare. I'm sure there are plenty of others on here that can ID most everything but just don't get all excited about trying like I usually do if there is a challenge. My vote is on Christian (cfkingfish) as the #1 palm ID'er, no doubt.

Jeff, I agree that your palm is not the standard D decipiens that you usually get. But there are a bunch of palms going around, 'hovitra', 'honkona', 'hankona', 'betafaka', that are very close to what you have and several people that grow a lot of palms say that these seem like a form of D decipiens to them (I've been more skeptical). I'm with you that the leaflets are pretty different from what I've grown as D decipiens, but until these things get bigger, it's just not clear what they are.

Matt

Hmmm? To be honest... at this age it looks excactly like the same sized Beccariophoenix alfredii I have close by.

Besides the leaves being more feathery than what I have experienced in d . decipiens... it doesn't have the familiar red tinge found my d. decipens at this age.... oh well time will tell. Never did buy any decipiens from Floribunda... donno how tags would get mixed.

Anyway....

If it is a d. decipiens.. I'll have to move it before it gets too much bigger... its planted very close to a wall.

Here is a photo of one of my oldest D. Decipiens.... may trunk this summer as its growing relatively fast this year.

Jeff